New funding flows into pet nutrition, health and technology

Companies operating in nutrition, health and technology have secured new funding to invest in manufacturing capacity, new products, distribution networks and innovation.

Lickicious

Mumbai-based pet food company Lickicious has raised ₹19 crore ($1.9M/€1.7M) in a funding round combining equity and institutional debt. Early-stage venture capital firm Prath Ventures led the institutional investment, with participation from ISV Capital. 

The company plans to deploy the funding across capacity expansion, product development, hiring and operating systems, while also broadening its national reach and exploring new categories, formats and sales channels.

A significant portion of the new capital will be used to establish a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility. The site is expected to increase production capacity and strengthen supply chain operations and quality control. 

“₹100 crore [$10M/€9M] in annual revenue is our next milestone. Our larger ambition is to build one of India’s top 3 pet food companies over the next decade,” the company said in a LinkedIn post.

Founded in 2023, Lickicious is the digital-first brand of Nuvexo Wellness, an Indian pet food and nutrition company. It offers a range of food and nutrition products designed for dogs and cats.

MAASH

The Belgian biotechnology company has raised a €12.2 million ($14.1M) funding package comprising equity investment and public financing.

The package includes a €5.9 million ($6.8M) equity raise from 5 new investors, namely Ambra Capital, InvestPro, Bpifrance, Nordzucker and Tereos. It also includes €4.3 million ($5M) in support from the public investment bank Bpifrance and a €2 million ($2.3M) loan.

MAASH is looking to scale LoCylia, its fermentation-derived mycoprotein ingredient designed for blended meat and pet food applications. In pet food, LoCylia acts as an alternative to fishmeal, soy and legumes, which are sources of amino acids.

The funding will also support the launch of the demonstration plant in Carling-Saint-Avold, France, and prepare the company for industrial-scale production.

MAASH is a B2B ingredient supplier for the food industry, specialized in fermentation and production of mycoproteins (single-cell protein derived from fungi), with operations in Belgium and France.

DocPharma

DocPharma has closed a $2 million (€1.7M) pre-Series A funding round with investment advisory services firm Equentis as the lead investor. The round also saw participation from existing investors 100Unicorns, Vinners and a group of strategic angel investors.

The Indian healthcare supply chain startup will use the new capital to expand its healthcare fulfillment network from 12 to over 50 cities, with plans to add 100 new licensed dark stores – retail-style warehouses and distribution centers – across the country.

The company currently works with more than 30 healthcare and wellness platforms, including e-pharmacies, hospitals, health insurers, corporate wellness companies and D2C brands, some of which operate in the pet care sector.

Its network currently stocks over 40,000 SKUs and enables partner platforms to deliver medicines and healthcare products within 30 minutes. To date, the startup has fulfilled more than 800,000 orders.

Beta Bugs

Beta Bugs has secured an investment of £800,000 ($1.1M/€931.4K) to accelerate the commercialization of its HiPer-Fly black soldier fly (BSF) genetics and expand its international customer base and network of strategic partners.

The Edinburgh-based BSF genetics company says the investment, led by angel investment syndicate TRICAPITAL Angels and supported by economic development agency Scottish Enterprise, will also help it meet demand from the commercial insect farming industry for higher-performing and more consistent BSF genetics.

HiPer-Fly was developed through selective breeding to improve growth, yield, survival and production consistency. Following successful trials in early 2026, Beta Bugs partnered with Israeli agritech firm FreezeM to supply the genetics using PauseM, supporting its commercial rollout across Europe.

PauseM is a patent-pending biotechnology product that pauses the life cycle of newly hatched BSF larvae for up to 21 days.

“The investment will enable Beta Bugs to continue developing its breeding program, strengthen commercial relationships internationally and expand the availability of HiPer-Fly genetics to BSF producers worldwide,” says Derek Shaw, Commercial Director at Scottish Enterprise.